SteamWorld Build Reviews
The "steamification" of city management ends up having a shorter fuse than necessary, losing the medium-term interest that seems natural in its genre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Steamworld Build is the very first game in the franchise, which spans multiple games across multiple genres, to be made by a different studio, and it’s unfortunate that it also happens to be, in my opinion, the weakest of the bunch. That doesn’t mean it’s not still a pretty good time though, and certainly a good addition to the Game Pass catalogue. Maps that pushed you to build a bit more creatively and a slightly less stiff progression system could have elevated this one up to a four, I reckon. Still, it’s well worth playing if you already have Game Pass or if you’re maybe a grizzled city-building veteran who fancies something a tad simpler before they delve back into spreadsheets and optimal street layouts.
SteamWorld Build is a charming city builder with some fun ideas that just fails to capture what makes the genre compelling. PC version reviewed.
Steamworld Build delivers an entertaining blend of city building and dungeon crawling, but the two pillars don't completely gel and myriad annoyances taint the experience.
Despite its shortcomings, SteamWorld Build is a delightful foray into the world of robot cowboys, and there’s a bit of fun to be had with the building and dungeon crawling, even if the tinge of innovation is a little muted.
Relaxing and brisk, but lacking in the substance needed to please genre fans and live up to the SteamWorld name.
Its early hours are a delightful exploration into a well-executed city-building mechanic, complemented by engaging underground mining operations.
Despite these missing quality of life features, SteamWorld Build still manages to be fairly addicting. Sense of progress is consistent enough even with occasional moments of waiting, and making discoveries feels rewarding enough to keep things engaging. The varied environments found throughout the game all feel uniquely designed, and accompanied by the blend of ambient sounds and satisfying soundtrack, the world as a whole comes off as intriguingly charming. Though it may not feel absolutely complete in its systems, SteamWorld Build is still a worthwhile venture for players looking for a creative new management sim.
A charming city-building simulator that is spoiled by the short duration and excessive simplicity of the gameplay.
Review in Russian | Read full review
And with each one of these you'll be picking up buildings and moving them from one part of the city to another to meet that unit's specific needs. Once you make it underground, SteamWorld Build is a delight, but any time spent on the surface is filled with mild frustrations that slowly add up and leave me yearning for the mines. It should come as no surprise, I suppose, that SteamWorld is at its best when you're digging.
I enjoyed SteamWorld Build a lot, but it’s not essential. Perhaps that’s why, 13 years later, this overall property is still searching for that breakout hit that will elevate it from indie charmer to a major property. The elements are all there: the theme, the quality aesthetics, and the maverick ability to move between genres while interpreting them in an accessible and engaging manner. But the developer really needs to figure out how to tell a compelling, deep and purposeful narrative with all these components. It’s the glue that’s missing from making SteamWorld memorable.
SteamWorld Build is a sufficiently well-designed management game that is initially engaging with a good blend of underground exploration, but it eventually becomes a bit repetitive and is over rather quickly, without much motivation to start up another town.
What I mean to say is that if an extremely rigid city-builder doesn’t sound like a problem to you, or even if it sounds appealing, then SteamWorld Build is worth trying. I can honestly say that I didn’t hate the time I spent with it, even on the second playthrough. It just feels empty when I think back on it. I don’t think it’s going to stick with me. But there are far worse problems for a game to have than being too robotic.
SteamWorld Build is a unique hybrid that entertains for a time. Its early hours are fun, thanks to how well it uses simplified genre staples to create a more arcade-friendly gameplay loop, a sentiment bolstered by a solid tutorial and intuitive control scheme. Regrettably, SteamWorld Build's campaign overstays its welcome. The lackluster story and rigid final objectives turn what was initially an engaging experience into a tedious grind.
SteamWorld Build is a simple but fun city builder cleverly combined with a dungeon-constructing miner that keeps things quick and casual.
SteamWorld Build is a relaxing simulation game that may lack challenge but it has plenty of heart. Watching your town and mine facilities expand to a bustling interconnected industry is satisfying stuff although once you reach the end, you'll likely never pick it up again. 🏜️
SteamWorld Build is a city-builder with heart that successfully mixes various genres. It is also accessible to players who don’t put hundreds of hours into Cities Skylines and for players who have played many games in the genre it is a cute palate cleanser that can be played through in one weekend. The game offers various maps, but the replayability is what’s going to hold this title back.
SteamWorld Build sets up a fantastic environment for Wild West robot capitalism to thrive. You must create workers to build enough resources that support your mining operations, which in turn helps develop your city. Expand your operations above and below ground to get more workers and new resources. While there isn't anything ground-breaking in this game and it can be repetitive, it still offers good fun for people who enjoy city builders. If you are looking for a strategic challenge that makes you balance two types of city building, SteamWorld Build is a great game to try out.
SteamWorld Build fulfills its mission and delivers a fun construction game with the undeniable charm of the versatile and long-running SteamWorld franchise. A little more depth or challenge would be welcome, of course, but there will always be room for polished experiences that value fun and are capable of welcoming new players with excellence. Recommended.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
SteamWorld Build" is an experience capable of enticing SimCity enthusiasts and followers of the Image & Form series. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite provide that silly dopamine rush that other games from their collection have achieved. Nevertheless, it's a solid proposal, sometimes even surprising, but it lacks that "something" to match up to its siblings.
Review in Spanish | Read full review